ScanSoft Ships Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7

PEABODY, MA - ScanSoft Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), a supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions, announced the availability of Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 7, a new release of the speech recognition application for Microsoft Windows. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7 is an improvement over the previous release, increasing accuracy by 15 percent and enabling users to achieve accuracy levels of up to 99 percent. Its speed has been improved by more than 50 percent for dictation initialization. Accuracy and performance are further enhanced by new features such as the Vocabulary Optimizer, which evaluates previously authored emails and documents to personalize itself to the writing style of the user, and the Performance Assistant, which optimizes the efficiency of speech recognition based on a user's workflow. "Dragon NaturallySpeaking has been a boon to those who need to limit their typing or who are familiar with dictation," noted Bill Meisel, President, TMA Associates, a speech market research firm. "ScanSoft's new release has addressed the issues that deterred less-motivated users-- getting started, accuracy, and ease-of-use. NaturallySpeaking fills a need beyond dictation-- idea and information capture. A new category of customers will use it to convert ideas in their heads into searchable and editable text. It's the ultimate cure for writer's block--thought-to-text." Dragon NaturallySpeaking turns speech into text at up to 160 words-per-minute, and allows users to control Microsoft Windows and their PC applications by voice. The product is integrated with Microsoft Office, which allows users to create new documents, or change the layout of existing documents, using their voice. The product's new Natural Punctuation feature offers automatic insertion of periods and commas in applications such as e-mails, instant messages and Web-based forms. "The accuracy and ease-of-use advancements in Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7 represent a step forward in speech recognition technology for users at home and in the office. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7 was designed and optimized to take advantage of Intel® Pentium® 4 processor based PCs," said David L. Brown, General Manager of Intel's Software Enabling Division. "Intel is pleased to have worked with ScanSoft, a member of the Intel® Early Access Program, to deliver the performance needed to make speech recognition a valuable solution for all PC users." The new release also includes expanded network tools for installation, maintenance and use of Dragon NaturallySpeaking throughout an enterprise, a key requirement for large healthcare organizations and corporations looking to implement speech recognition solutions. "Many years of leadership in imaging, and more recently speech technologies, have provided ScanSoft with a keen understanding of what it takes to move recognition products into the mainstream," said Paul Ricci, chief executive officer and chairman for ScanSoft. "The enhancements and features in Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7 demonstrate the implementation of that blueprint ? create a highly accurate, innovative and easy to use product that enhances productivity in applications that people already use. This exciting product represents the most robust speech solution in ScanSoft history, with functionality that is unmatched on the market."